When Nein Means Ja

Updated July 1, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

The German chancellor has had his fair share of failure. Witness an economy that has fallen into a coma during his stewardship. But now Gerhard Schr&ouml;der risks failure even in his calculated attempt to survive through self-abnegation. That must really hurt.

Following the defeat in a key regional election in May, Mr. Schr&ouml;der stunned the world by calling snap elections. Given his Social Democrats' disapproval ratings,...